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FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
Vol. CXXIII, No. 140
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
Tacoma land sale would assist Puyallup Tribe justice center development
By Todd Matthews, Editor Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote next week on a resolution authorizing the sale of a parcel of City-owned land to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to enable the tribe to develop a justice center adjacent to the tribe's existing administration building. According to documents prepared by City staff, the City of Tacoma originally purchased the property, located adjacent to 3009 Portland Avenue East, in 1998 in order to maintain through-alley access between Portland Avenue and R Street. If approved by City Council, the 2,641-square-foot parcel would be sold to the Puyallup Tribe for $26,410. Similarly, City Council will also consider an ordinance vacating the alley right-of-way between East 30th and East 31st Streets, extending between Portland Avenue East and East R Street, for the future development of the tribe's justice center. The justice center is planned to be completed in three phases, according to the Puyallup Tribe's Web site. The first phase will include a $8.8 million, 20,237-square-foot correctional facility with room for 43 inmates. The second phase will include a $4.5 million, 12,354-square-foot facility for police operations. The third phase will include a $6.8 million, 16,868-square-foot facility for courtrooms and legal services. Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution authorizing the sale and the ordinance vacating the alley right-of-way during its meeting on Tues., July 24 at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, located 747 Market Street. Meeting materials are available online at cms. cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/CityCouncil/ Agendas/2012-FullAgendas/Full20120724.pdf. Meetings are streamed live online at tvtacoma. com and broadcast live on TV Tacoma.
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Northwest Trek mourns passing of leader Ellis
Posted online Thurs., July 19 in 1995; Hellyer Natural History Center, a laboratory/ Northwest Trek Wildlife Park officials announced classroom open to students, scientists and the busideputy director Dave Ellis died Tuesday. He was 65. ness community, in 2000; Coyote/red fox exhibit in Ellis dedicated two-thirds of his professional life to 2003; Acquisition of an additional 100 in 2005 for conNorthwest Trek, having arrived at the wildlife park servation activities; Installation of a recovery project near Eatonville on Jan. 17, 1985. He died on North- for the Oregon Spotted Frog, thanks in part to an enwest Trek's 37th anniversary, July 17, which was a dowment Ellis helped win in 2008; and Zip Wild zip line/challenge course, which opened last date he celebrated every year for the weekend. contribution the wildlife park has "The addition of the bear exhibit in made to the local community and to 1993 was one of Northwest Trek's bigefforts to preserve a variety of species. gest and most popular accomplishments With nearly 28 years at Northwest under Ellis' direction," Geddes said. "Its Trek, a 723-acre zoological park dediconstruction was a team effort and it was cated to conservation, education and built in-house. The exhibit still draws recreation by displaying, interpreting admiring reviews from zoo-design profesand researching native Northwest sionals. It was immediately loved by the wildlife and their natural habitats, public, a fact proved by attendance figEllis served the wildlife park, its aniures that year." mals and its human visitors for close More recently, Ellis' leadership was to three-quarters of its existence. instrumental in a collaborative effort to "He had the type of personality that preserve the Oregon spotted frog by givtouched a lot of people," said Gary Geding the endangered species a head start des, director of the Zoological and EnELLIS before release into the wild. He passionvironmental Division of Metro Parks Tacoma, which oversees operation of the wildlife park. "I believe that he and our team, through day-to-day management, protected the original dream that Northwest Trek benefactors David 'Doc' Hellyer and Connie Hellyer had when they donated this incomparable piece of land to Metro Parks. Every day, he managed toward the protection of Northwest Trek and the concept of what it was established to be. He was unwavering in that commitment." Ellis was a U.S. Army veteran who brought his military skills, a bachelor's degree in biology and prior zoo management experience in El Paso, Texas; Wellington, New Zealand; and West Palm Beach, Fla., to Northwest Trek. He was hired as general curator and became deputy director on Jan. 1, 2000. "Dave Ellis was a tremendous asset to Northwest Trek and the greater community, a stalwart advocate for wildlife, a warm, caring friend and a valued member of the Metro Parks Tacoma family," said Metro Parks Tacoma Executive Director Jack Wilson. "This is a great loss for all of us, and our thoughts are with his family and all of his coworkers." Ellis led the wildlife park through nearly three decades of change -- in size, in attendance, in animals and exhibits -- while keeping animal welfare and conservation as core constants. Those changes included Cat Country, with cougar, bobcat and endangered lynx, in 1987; Barn owl exhibit in 1988; Cheney Discovery Center for children in 1989; Forest Theater in 1991; Wolf exhibit in 1992; Grizzly and black bear exhibits in 1993 -- the year Northwest Trek set an attendance record of 210,356; Picnic pavilion completed
ately believed it's not too late to make a difference in the survival of the once-abundant amphibians. But perhaps his most enduring legacy is the long record of solid and successful accreditation reports from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), according to Geddes. "We got our first accreditation in 1985, and it was because of the work he did," said Geddes. AZA accreditation is crucial because it distinguishes a zoological park as a premier facility worthy of and eligible for participation in animal reproduction and other conservation programs. Fewer than 10 percent of the approximately 2,400 animal exhibitors licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are accredited by the AZA. Ellis was known throughout the wildlife park and in the larger Metro Parks Tacoma organization as a warm, compassionate, caring man. He was an outdoorsman who came even more alive with a fishing line in the water, skis on the snow or hiking boots on a trail. Ellis, Geddes and Northwest Trek Operations Director Chip Heinz climbed to the summit of Mount Rainier together in 1986. Ellis also was active in and passionate about the community in which he worked and lived, having served on the Eatonville Town Council and on a number of committees, boards and other civic groups. Whether he was working at Northwest Trek or in the community, Dave Ellis showed the same true-compass character, Geddes said. It was a trait many emulated. "He had a sense of professionalism that inspired people every day," Geddes said.